Stamp collector Val Beeken has been given the royal seal of approval after being offered an invitation that would be hard to lick.

Val, an avid philatelist for 40 years, is being given her own personal viewing of the priceless Royal stamp collection housed at St James's Palace in London.

The Durham Police control room operator is the envy of every stamp collector in Britain as she has been given the rare opportunity to see the stamps usually locked away behind closed doors.

It was only after a chance meeting with the Royal stamp collection's deputy keeper that she was invited to step inside the palace.

Now Val is getting ready for her visit next month, when she will take a friend to accompany her.

Val, of Newton Hall, Durham, said: "I was absolutely delighted when I was offered a private viewing.

"I believe the collection was started by King George V and mainly features stamps from Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

"In the late 1960s my dad took me to see the collection that was on public display in Buckingham Palace, but this will be something quite different.

"It's unusual for individuals to get a private viewing and I was high as a kite when I was given the chance. The deputy keeper and I met at a congress in Gateshead.

"He had not long been in the job and believes the collection should be open more to the public, or at least to interested stamp collectors.

"My date in November has yet to be confirmed but I am so excited. It is an offer that would make any philatelist envious."

The unexpected invitation came at the 85th Philatelic Congress of Great Britain, held at Gateshead's Swallow Hotel in July.

Canadian-born Val has worked at Durham Constabulary headquarters for more than 30 years, the last 13 in the control room.

Her interest in philately began in junior school and the pride of her collection are stamps with a law and order theme. It includes postal envelopes endorsed by the founder of the modern police service, Sir Robert Peel, ahead of the launch of the first British stamps in 1840.